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KPMG1601 Market Street
NW corner of 16th & Market Sts.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
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Carole CohnWIL of Greater Philadelphia
wilofgp@gmail.com
It Takes a Village -- the Role of Micro-enterprise in the Lewa* community in Kenya
The Lewa Micro-enterprise Program operates through the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Northern Kenya and serves a community of approximately 2,000 women across more than 15 communities in areas that surround the Lewa Conservancy. Their micro-enterprise program was started in 2005 with a grant of $6,000 and has grown to a current loan portfolio of $143,000 serving 975 women with loans and comprehensive financial and business training has been provided to more than 1.950 women. As a result of the knowledge gained through this unique micro-enterprise program's business education, capacity building and exposure, the women involved have been equipped with the skills necessary to start businesses and further develop existing ones. It has enhanced their financial and economic capabilities and understanding of governance issues as well as establishing them as Lewa and conservation ambassadors and has served as an agent of change to the surrounding communities.
Ginger Thomson, Executive Director of Lewa, has spent the last four years working with the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya to build their presence in the US. She understood the unique opportunity Lewa offered to bring development to conservation strategies and conservation in rural Kenya – and jumped on board to help catalyze the impact of this small and highly effective organization in northern Kenya.
Over time Thomson has focused her work on social impact management and investing in both the public and private sectors and has developed a passion for helping people and building great products/services that change the world. Thomson entered the Conservation field hoping to find and help build a world class institution that could reverse conservation trends and recognize the importance of holistic approaches to wildlife conservation and socio-economic development.
*The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy was established in 1995 to promote the conservation of endangered species, community development and conservation tourism. Micro credit represents a growing part of their community initiatives. The land on which Lewa is located is in the foothills of Mount Kenya and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2013.
Learn more at www.lewa.org.
Ginger Thomson, Executive Director of Lewa, has spent the last four years working with the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya to build their presence in the US. She understood the unique opportunity Lewa offered to bring development to conservation strategies and conservation in rural Kenya – and jumped on board to help catalyze the impact of this small and highly effective organization in northern Kenya.
Over time Thomson has focused her work on social impact management and investing in both the public and private sectors and has developed a passion for helping people and building great products/services that change the world. Thomson entered the Conservation field hoping to find and help build a world class institution that could reverse conservation trends and recognize the importance of holistic approaches to wildlife conservation and socio-economic development.
*The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy was established in 1995 to promote the conservation of endangered species, community development and conservation tourism. Micro credit represents a growing part of their community initiatives. The land on which Lewa is located is in the foothills of Mount Kenya and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2013.
Learn more at www.lewa.org.